Spectacular mountain home constructed with outdoor entertaining in mind. From the stone walls surrounding the paver driveway to the meticulously landscaped grounds with cascading waterfalls to the porte-cochere and stone foot bridge that leads to the artisan-crafted outdoor kitchen with authentic Italian pizza oven and outdoor living room all surrounding a beautifully constructed 3 bed, 3.5 bath residence with screen porch,views and guest quarters. View full details here: http://bit.ly/1i1VDlr

Intriguing and meticulously maintained Lake Lure waterfront home. Features include a large great room with floor-to-ceiling windows, kitchen with Corian counters and center island, two fireplaces, main level Master Suite, 2 bonus rooms on the upper level, a large laundry/craft room, and a two-car attached garage. The waterfront features a large boathouse with sun deck, and extensive rock wall terracing and landscaping.

Timeless, gothic inspiration meets contemporary mountain elegance in this sophisticated residence. Features include an elegant dining room which opens to a screened porch, a thoughtfully planned kitchen with custom cabinets and finishes, an oval breakfast room that opens to the great room, a large master suite on the main level. A media room, library, and stone walled courtyard with Koi pond are just some of this homes many unique features. – See more at: http://bit.ly/494overlook

Cradled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, in the “land of a thousand waterfalls”, rests the unassuming town of Brevard. Unassuming because, even though its a small town with less than 7,000 residents, Brevard has become a a noted tourism, retirement, and cultural center in Western North Carolina. A moderate climate, environmental beauty and cultural activities attract locals and re-locators alike.

What is it known for?

Many things. Brevard is home to Brevard College, a 4-year liberal arts college as well as the Brevard Music Center, one of the nation’s preeminent summer music teaching and performance institutions. But Brevard has a few other “claims to fame”.

Sciurus carolinensis – the Eastern Gray Squirrel. Except in Brevard, it’s actually white. Wait. What? A white squirrel? Is it a distinct species? Some sort of genetic mutation? Well, the answer you’ll get depends on who you ask… The white squirrel has become sort of a living mascot for Brevard; so much so that the town has built an entire art & music festival around. The festival, aptly named “The White Squirrel Festival” draws in over 9,000 visitors over it the two-day event.

Where do you want to live?

Just six miles from downtown Brevard lies Connestee Falls – a country club community featuring a golf course, tennis courts, swimming pools, lakes, club house, and hiking trails. For those looking for something without all the amenities, The Reserve, an 1,100 acre, low-density gated community ideal for nature lovers. Divided into parcels averaging twenty plus acres each, The Reserve is a gated community of estates with a distinct wilderness feel.

As with the rest of Western North Carolina, both asking and selling prices are on the rise. Unlike some other smaller communities however, inventory is declining which is good for both buyers and sellers since lower inventory and higher demand keep the average listing price around $338,000. An entry level 3/2 around Brevard starts around the $160k mark. Expect to start in the low $300′s for homes closer to downtown. If golf is your hobby and you want to live in a country club community like Connestee Falls, homes on the fairways start in the mid $200′s and climb from there.

In 1902, Dr. Lucius B. Morse and his brothers purchased 64 acres around Chimney Rock for $5,000. They later acquired enough land to bring the total to 8,000 acres. in 1925, the family created Carolina Mountain Power Company and began construction of a dam on the Broad River. What was born from this ambitious project was the town of Lake Lure.

Encompassing 720 acres and 27 miles of shoreline, Lake Lure enjoys its proximity to larger towns like Asheville and Charlotte. Within 100 miles of four states, it’s a wonderful destination for water skiing, boating, fishing, golfing, and hiking.

What is it known for?

Always intended to be a resort town, Lake Lure has played host to US Presidents, foreign dignitaries, authors, celebrities and the like.

Why, the lakefront of course! The location of the lake allows for both “big water” views and expansive vistas of Hickory Nut Gorge, Chimney Rock, and the surrounding mountains. While Lake Lure has several small subdivisions and plenty of rural housing, the largest community is Rumbling Bald Resort on Lake Lure. Inside the 3,600 acre resort lies Fairfield Mountains-a gated, mixed-use community with two championship golf courses, a private beach and marina, restaurants, tennis courts, a pro shop, an spa and fitness center, and both an indoor and outdoor swimming pool. Prepare to pay a one-time initiation fee of $5,000 and $2,129 yearly POA dues.Firefly Cove is another option for those looking to have lower association dues though the amenities are not quite as expansive. However, Firefly Cove does offer a community lodge with a fitness room, billiard room, and a large gathering room as well as an outdoor pool and a small marina. Perhaps Firefly Cove’s biggest “claim to fame” is that it was built on the same cove made famous by the film “Dirty Dancing”. You know; the cove where Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey are practicing lifts…

Side Trips

As we mentioned earlier, Lake Lure is in wonderful proximity to larger towns. Asheville is only a 45 minute drive. Charlotte is about an hour and fifteen minutes. Hendersonville is only 25 minutes and Greenville, South Carolina is around 45 minutes. Much closer however is the small village of Chimney Rock, which is of course famous for its 315-foot monolith of the same name. The natural formation now resides in the newly-formed 4,531 acre Chimney Rock State Park. Below “the Rock”, you’ll find a charming village filled with shopping and restaurants.Asheville Regional Airport is closest though Charlotte-Douglas Airport is one hour away and Greenville-Spartanburg Airport is only a 45 minute drive. While both Lake Lure and Chimney Rock offer modest accommodations, we’d recommend renting a lakefront home from a property management company like Lake Country Vacation Rentals.

Practical Info

Lake Lure has around 1,200 full-time residents. In the summer though, the population can balloon up to around 10,000. That’s because many of the homes in the area are second or even third vacation homes. Because of the provenance of Lake Lure has always been a playground for the slightly more affluent, the real estate market was slower to be affected by the downtown. 2009 proved that no market was immune however, and sales began to drop sharply. Flash forward to 2012 – Lake Lure has now “market-corrected” and though prices have dropped considerably, sales are now returning to the area.

Non-waterfront single family homes start in the $170′s while non-waterfront condos start around the $140 mark. For those that want to be on the water (and let’s face it, who wouldn’t?), lakefront homes start in the $220′s and go all the way up to $2,650,000.